There is hereby authorized to be established in the District of Columbia a work release program under which any person who is: (1) convicted of a misdemeanor or of violating a municipal regulation or an act of Congress in the nature of a municipal regulation, and is sentenced to serve in a penal institution a term of 1 year or less; (2) imprisoned for nonpayment of a fine, or for contempt of court; or (3) committed to jail after revocation of probation pursuant to § 24-304, may, whenever the judge of the sentencing court is satisfied that the ends of justice and the best interests of society as well as of such person would be subserved thereby or whenever after service by the person of 1/3 of his or her sentence, the Board of Parole is satisfied that the ends of justice and the best interests of society as well as of the sentenced person would be served thereby, be granted the privilege of a work release for the purpose of working at his employment or seeking employment. Such a work release privilege may also be granted, in the discretion of the sentencing court or the Director of the Department of Corrections, whenever there exist such special circumstances as merit the granting of the privilege. As used in this subchapter, the word “sentence” and its derivatives shall be construed to include sentencing, imprisonment, and commitment as referred to in this section.
CREDIT(S)
(Nov. 10, 1966, 80 Stat. 1519, Pub. L. 89-803, § 2; Mar. 10, 1983, D.C. Law 4-202, § 5, 30 DCR 173; June 3, 1997, D.C. Law 11-273, § 4(a), 43 DCR 6168.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 24-461.
1973 Ed., § 24-461.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 4(a) of the Zero Tolerance for Guns Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-390, August 26, 1996, 43 DCR 4986), § 4(a) of the Zero Tolerance for Guns Congressional Adjournment Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-436, December 4, 1996, 43 DCR 6651), and § 4(a) of the Zero Tolerance for Guns Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-35, March 11, 1997, 44 DCR 1928).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 4-202, the “District of Columbia Sentencing Improvements Act of 1982,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 4-120, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 16, 1982, and December 14, 1982, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 28, 1982, it was assigned Act No. 4-286 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 11-273, the “Zero Tolerance for Guns Amendment Act of 1996,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 11-153, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 19, 1996, and October 1, 1996, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on October 18, 1996, it was assigned Act No. 11-431 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 11-273 became effective on June 3, 1997.